King salmon restriction to take affect in Kuskokwim Bay Tribs

The Division of Sport Fish is reducing the bag and possession limit for king salmon to one king salmon in all tributaries of the Kuskokwim Bay (including but not limited to the Goodnews, Kanektok, and Arolik rivers), effective 12:01 a.m. Sunday, May 1, 2016. King salmon escapement at the Kanektok River weir in 2015 was the highest in recent years, at over 10,000 fish. This follows several years of low escapements.

The aerial survey escapement goals were met at the Kanektok and Goodnews rivers in 2015. The 2015 king salmon escapement at the Middle Fork Goodnews River weir was near and slightly below the escapement goal. While king salmon escapements improved in 2015, due to recent poor king salmon returns to the Kanektok and Goodnews rivers a reduction in the sport fishing bag limit is warranted to ensure king salmon escapement goals are met in 2016 while continuing to provide harvest opportunity throughout the run.

If inseason stock assessment information indicates that the king salmon escapement is adequate in the Kanektok and Goodnews rivers and subsistence needs are being met, sport fishing restrictions may be relaxed.